Types of Mental Health Professionals
Mental health professionals all have different roles. Understanding who can prescribe and monitor medication and provide therapy and counseling can offer can help you decide which is right for you.
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Innovations in the range of evidence based medications, therapy and psychosocial services such as psychiatric rehabilitation, housing, employment and peer supports have made wellness and recovery a reality for people living with mental health conditions.
Choosing the right mix of treatments and supports that work for you is an important step in the recovery process. Treatment choices for mental health conditions will vary from person to person. Even people with the same diagnosis will have different experiences, needs, goals and objectives for treatment. There is no “one size fits all” treatment.
When people are directly involved in designing their own treatment plan, including defining recovery and wellness goals, choosing services that support them and evaluating treatment decisions and progress , the experience of care and outcomes are improved.
There are many tools that can improve the experience on the road to wellness: medication, counseling (therapy), social support and education. Therapy, for example, can take many forms, from learning relaxation skills to intensively reworking your thinking patterns. Social support, acceptance and encouragement from friends, family and others can also make a difference. Education about how to manage a mental health condition along with other medical conditions can provide the skills and supports to enrich the unique journey toward overall recovery and wellness.
Together with a treatment team you can develop a well-rounded and integrated recovery plan that may include counseling, medications, support groups, education programs and other strategies that work for you.
Mental health professionals all have different roles. Understanding who can prescribe and monitor medication and provide therapy and counseling can offer can help you decide which is right for you.
Psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy,” is when a person speaks with a trained therapist in a safe and confidential environment to explore and understand feelings and behaviours and gain coping skills.
Mental health crisis response services are a vital part of any mental health service system. A well-designed crisis response system can provide backup to community providers, perform outreach by connecting first-time users to appropriate services and improve community relations by providing reassurance that the person’s needs are met in a mental health crisis.
Treatment for mental health conditions is not a one size fits all approach. Treatment can include private doctors, community mental health centers, emergency rooms, hospitalization and substance abuse centers. Knowing where to look and what to expect can help reduce confusion and stress.
Some people find medications to be an important part of their treatment plan. Understanding their risks and benefits can help you make the right choice.
Psychosocial treatments look at someone’s psychological development and how it contributes to the way that they act in and respond to their social environment.
Complementary and alternative methods can help with recovery when traditional methods do not seem to be enough.
When treatments such as medication and therapy aren’t able to relieve the symptoms of depression or another mental health condition, brain stimulation therapies can be an option.
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
